Not sure what else you’re supposed to do with an eggplant except use it as an inappropriate emoji?
Try making an eggplant omelette, also known as Tortang Talong!
Tortang Talong
Tortang talong!
Tortang talong has to be one of my favorite Filipino comfort foods. The flesh of the eggplant when prepared this way gives a creamy texture, and it’s so easy to do!
I know Filipino food can be kind of…rich. I try to substitute some of the ingredients for healthier options, but feel free to use the usual ingredients for a more “authentic” taste!
ingredients
Chinese eggplant (I use one eggplant per person)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp of olive oil or canola oil
1 tbsp. of butter
salt and pepper to taste
Optional ingredients:
Look at ‘dem eggplants
½ lb. ground beef/turkey
1 tbsp olive oil or canola oil
1 tbsp onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (love me some Lea & Perrins!)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Add 1 tbsp. of olive oil or canola oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan on medium heat
Place the eggplants with the skin still on in the pan and leave on one side until it blackens and blisters (about 7 min.)
Turn the eggplants onto the other side and repeat
While the eggplants are cooking, beat 2 eggs into a mixing bowl and set aside
Once the eggplants are fully blistered and feel soft when poked at, remove from the pan and place on a plate to cool
While the eggplants are cooking, we’ll start preparing the ground meat.
Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil or canola oil on med-high heat
Sauté your minced garlic for a minute
Add your diced onions and sauté for another minute
Add in ½ lb. of ground meat and season with salt and pepper
Stir occasionally until the meat is fully cooked
Add 3 tsp. of Worcestershire sauce
Set aside
Get your cooled eggplants and gently remove the blistered skin from the flesh. I like to keep part of the stem on so I can hold onto it while doing this step (and it looks better when plating)
Using a fork, flatten the flesh down.
Soak the eggplant in your egg batter for about a minute or two, so that it is completely drenched
Add your tbsp. of butter into the pan on medium heat
Once the butter is completely melted and spread, place your egg-battered eggplant on top
Add a spoon or two of the ground beef in the middle and press down one the egg has started to solidify
I like to fold the sides into the middle to make sure the ground beef stays in place, but others just flip it over without doing so.
Using a spatula, flip over the eggplant omelette, and cook for another minute
Remove from heat and serve
Add some garnishments, such as chopped green onions or fried garlic!
A little extras:
-Tortang talong is traditionally eaten with patis, or fish sauce. I love to eat it with Sriracha!
-Want a more decadent approach? Substitute the ground meat for crab meat and add more butter. Trust me. Your mouth will be in heaven!
Tortang Talong with Sriracha